By Sophie Parker, Stentorian Staff Writer
Premiering in theaters on August 8th, 2025, and later released to streaming services, the documentary It’s Never Over tells the haunting story of singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. Directed and produced by Amy Berg, the film turns Buckley’s brief but impactful life into a beautifully crafted tribute. Through interviews with those who knew and loved him, the documentary becomes an emotional and personal watch that recognizes his passionate personality and genius musical talent.
From the beginning, the film sets a soft tone. Buckley’s mother describes his childhood, and features never-before-seen photographs from his early years. She explains his complex relationship with his father, musician Tim Buckley, who left before Jeff was born and died of an overdose at age 28. His absence ultimately shaped Jeff’s life and identity. He spent much of his life and career trying to distinguish himself from his father’s unwanted shadow.
The documentary also gives insight into the making of Grace, Jeff’s first and only album, through the voices of his former girlfriends and other musicians such as Ben Harper. Exclusive performance footage from Sin-é, a small New York café where Buckley often played, truly brought these stories to life, showing his unfiltered talent in an intimate setting. Grace left a lasting impact on listeners everywhere, even David Bowie once calling Grace “the best album ever made.”
The film also touches on the pressure Buckley felt while working on his second album following a world tour. Tragically, before he could complete it, Buckley drowned in the Wolf River in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 30. Before his passing, Buckley described his musical inspirations as “love, anger, depression, joy, dreams and Zeppelin,” eerily, it is said that Jeff was listening to Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” when he drowned. The documentary handles his death with respect while also emulating the sense of uncertainty that revolved around his death at the time and to this day. Touching the hearts of viewers, his autopsy revealed no drugs or alcohol were in his system when he passed, in contrast to the way his father died, showing a final quiet defiance of the legacy he never wanted to inherit.
Visually, the cinematography almost mimics Buckley’s journal sketches and drawings, adding another layer of intimacy and a demonstration of his creativity. The documentary closes with a voicemail Jeff left for his mother, an emotional message, attributing her as one of the people Jeff loved and admired most in life, leaving both her and viewers in tears.
Amy Berg succeeds in capturing the spirit of someone whose life, though short, burned brightly. Jeff Buckley’s story, like his music, is evocative and unforgettable. Ultimately, It’s Never Over lives up to its title, reminding us that Jeff Buckley’s legacy will never be over. Making such an impact with only one album is nearly unheard of, but Buckley’s lust for life and music continues to live on. Berg’s ability to capture that spirit in just 108 minutes is powerful and makes for a recommended watch not only to Jeff Buckley fans but all music lovers.
At a school filled with driven and creative minds like Buckley’s, his story can remind students of the importance of pursuing passion authentically. Buckley’s struggles with identity and pressure mirror the challenges many students such as myself face when balancing academic expectations with fulfillment. Watching Buckley’s willingness to feel deeply and take risks with his music encourages the vulnerability needed in order to succeed, in all aspects of life. Personally, seeing his story made me reflect on my own balance between expectations and fulfillment. It made me wonder if I am on a path that will lead me toward a content life or a life spent trying to reach expectations. A comparison that feels especially relevant in NCSSM’s high-achieving environment, knowing that students here are known for their desire to exceed expectations, but at what cost? In that way, Buckley’s legacy speaks not only to musicians, but to anyone learning how to define themselves on their own terms.
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